20th Middle East History and Theory Conference (May 13th-14th, 2005)

The Middle East History and Theory Conference is organized in collaboration with the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Chicago. It is held annually and provides a forum for students and faculty in the social sciences and humanities to present papers treating Middle Eastern and Central Asian art/architecture, literature, society, history and politics from the 7th century to the present. This year, through the organization of the panels and the keynote address by Professor Marilyn Booth (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign), the discussion will focus on the role of literature and literary imagination in the writing of history. The conference will also feature a plenary session with Professor Hugh Kennedy (The University of St. Andrew’s, Scotland), author of The Prophet and the Age of the Caliphate.

In addition, there are a number of special events taking place in conjunction with the conference. On Saturday afternoon, guest musicians from Turkey Şehvar Beşiroğlu, Songül Ata, and Nermin Kaygusu will give a workshop on Turkish classical music. Later that evening they will perform with the University of Chicago’s Middle East Music Ensemble, directed by Issa Boulos. Throughout the conference, two artists will be exhibiting photographs of Turkey in Ida Noyes (Library Lounge). Ayşen Nergis’ Travel into GAP features pictures taken in the Southeast of Turkey in Harran and Şanlıurfa. Aziza Khatoon’s Backstreets of Turkey provides another view on everyday life in various parts of the country.